At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday after a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in, officials said.

The terror group has claimed responsibility for the incident, they said.

Police identified the terrorist who carried out the attack as Adil Ahmad from Kakapora in Pulwama. He joined the Jaish-Mohammed in 2018, they said.

The news of the 40 CRPF jawans being killed has sent a shockwave across the country and condemnation of the attack and condolences for the familes of the fallen jawans have poured in from across the country.

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti called it a “gruesome terror attack” while Omar Abdullah condoled and offered prayers to the bereaved families of the soldiers killed.

Disturbing news coming in from #awantipura . Twelve of our security personnel have been martyred and several have been injured. No words are enough to condemn the gruesome terror attack. How many more lives will be snuffed out before this madness ends?

Terrible news coming from the valley. A number of CRPF soldiers are reported to have been killed & injured in an IED blast. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. My prayers for the injured & condolences to the families of the bereaved. #Kashmir

CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar said that senior officers were at the spot and the investigation was underway. “Injured are being taken care of. There were 2,500 personnel in the convoy,” Bhatnagar was quoted by news agency ANI.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district that left 40 troopers dead.

"Extremely shocking... I strongly condemn the terror attack on CRPF convoy in which many casualties are feared. India must stand united in this moment of grief," he tweeted.

Extremely shocking news coming from Pulwama (J&K). I strongly condemn the terror attack on CRPF convoy in which many casualties are feared. India must stand united in this moment of grief

"As a soldier and a citizen of India, my blood boils at the spineless and cowardly attacks. 18 brave hearts from the CRPF laid down their lives in Pulwama. I salute their selfless sacrifice & promise that every drop of our soldier's blood will be avenged," tweeted General VK Singh.

As a soldier and a citizen of India, my blood boils at the spineless and cowardly attacks. 18 brave hearts from the @crpfindia laid down their lives in #Pulwama. I salute their selfless sacrifice & promise that every drop of our soldier’s blood will be avenged. #JaiHind

"Shocked by the dastardly terrorist attack in which CRPF personnel were martyred. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured," the tweet from the Vice President's office said.

Shocked by the dastardly terrorist attack in which CRPF personnel were martyred. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. @crpfindia

Describing the attack as 'cowardly', Congress president Rahul Gandhi has reacted to the audacious terror attack and offered his condolences to the family of martyrs.

I’m deeply disturbed by the cowardly attack on a #CRPF convoy in J&K in which many of our brave CRPF men have been martyred and a large number wounded, some critically. My condolences to the families of our martyrs. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.